Eindhoven vs Almelo: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Almelo costs roughly 9% less than Eindhoven. Eindhoven leads on digital nomad infrastructure, with faster average internet speeds. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Almelo is approximately 0% less expensive than Eindhoven based on cost of living including rent. This makes Almelo a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Almelo has a FIRE Score of 71/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 92, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Almelo is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Eindhoven
Eindhoven is the Netherlands' best-kept secret for expats who want big-city tech money without Amsterdam's rent circus. A one-bedroom outside the center runs $1,050/mo against an average net salary of $4,465/mo, and the overall expat score of 82/100 with a digital nomad score of 84/100 says the place works. The catch is that this is a 120-thousand-person company town at heart, so if you are not in tech or design, the social and professional pool gets shallow fast. Come for the safety index of 85/100 and the 200 Mbps internet, stay if you can handle cool, damp winters and a restaurant scene where dinner for two still costs $78.
About Netherlands
Best for digital nomads with high income: the Netherlands offers a self-employment residency visa with a posted income floor of $1,713/month, but check the latest application details. Safety is top-tier with a 73.1 Safety Index and a US Travel Advisory Level 2, comparable to safe US metros. The trade-off: a progressive income tax up to 49.5% on local earnings, which can erode remote-work arbitrage gains.
$954/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Almelo
Almelo is a small, safe Dutch city that quietly outperforms its size: a 92/100 safety index, an 8/100 crime index, excellent healthcare, and widely spoken English make daily life easy, while a 68/100 cost of living index and $1,346/mo city-center rent keep it far cheaper than the Randstad. The trade-off is scale and access: 73 thousand people, a small expat community, and no major airport on the doorstep mean you will likely be traveling for big-city culture and long-haul flights. With an average net salary of $4,777/mo against $1,020/mo in non-rent costs for a single adult, it is a genuinely affordable base for remote workers and early retirees, though anyone craving a large international crowd will find it thin. Come for the low costs and high safety, not for the buzz.
About Netherlands
Best for digital nomads with high income: the Netherlands offers a self-employment residency visa with a posted income floor of $1,713/month, but check the latest application details. Safety is top-tier with a 73.1 Safety Index and a US Travel Advisory Level 2, comparable to safe US metros. The trade-off: a progressive income tax up to 49.5% on local earnings, which can erode remote-work arbitrage gains.
$767/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Eindhoven | Almelo |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1350 | $1345.71 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1050 | $1233.57 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2450 | $1906.42 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1679.6 | $1906.42 |
| Safety Index | 85 | 92 |
| Internet Speed | 200Mbps | 175Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Eindhoven | Almelo |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,943/mo | $2,226/mo |
| Excluding rent | $893/mo | $992/mo |
| Rent | $1,050/mo | $1,234/mo |
| Groceries | $240/mo | $256/mo |
| Dining out | $252/mo | $202/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $134/mo | $131/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $267/mo | $300/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $103/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Eindhoven vs Almelo -- Frequently Asked Questions
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